Deputies: Man pocketed $56K ring from sports bar customer

Photo: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

By Barbara HijekFloriDUH

A deputy was dispatched Monday evening to Gatorz Bar & Grill in Port Charlotte after the general manager reported she had surveillance video of a customer -- a regular she knew only as 'Brian' -- picking up a valuable gold and diamond ring which had fallen off the hand of a 73-year-old customer, according to a news releasefrom the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Brian must have though he was being smooth: When he spotted the ring on the floor, Brian allegedly walked over to the spot, placed his foot over the ring to conceal it, scoped the joint to make sure nobody was looking before swiping it and putting it inside his pocket, the report stated.

Shortly after, the elderly victim and other customers began looking for the $56,745 ring -- but Brian reportedly didn't help them and had already left the area.

A review of credit card transactions by deputies found a receipt signed by a man named Brian Patrick Cooney.

Authorities then went to Cooney’s home and asked if he had been at Gatorz. When Cooney confirmed he was there, deputies told him they had come to collect property that did not belong to him, according to the release.

Cooney, however, allegedly told them he didn't know what they were talking about.

Lawman then informed Cooney that he was shown on video picking up the ring and putting it into his pocket.

Oh, that ring?

Cooney then told the lawmen he had planned to give it to the owner tomorrow when he returned to Gatorz, and handed over the ring to the deputy, deputies said.

His story didn't quite ring true, as far as the lawmen were concerned.

Cooney, 57, was arrested for Grand Theft from a Person 65 Years and Older was hauled to jail.